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Hay & Forage Grower
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No doubt about it. Hay production in the southeastern U.S. improved
greatly this year over 2007. Even so, pockets of the region still face
shortages. “Last year was just plain dire,” says Dennis Hancock,
University of Georgia extension forage specialist. “By comparison,
this year was much better. But relative to a normal year, we’re still
behind. The hay-supply situation in some areas this winter could be as
tight and maybe even tighter than it was last year.”
Growers in the northern part of the state are suffering most. “They
were hit hard by drought again this year,” says Hancock. “For a lot
of people, it will be difficult to handle this two years in a row.”
Crop producers aren’t baling crop residue as they did a year ago,
which adds to this year’s shortfall in some areas. “That helped fill
in the gap last year,” admits Hancock. “But with fertilizer prices
up 50% or more this year, the crop guys are more hesitant to bale it up.
Higher fuel costs this year will also make it more difficult to truck
that baled residue around the state.”
Hay growers in Alabama are in “infinitely better shape” than they
were a year ago, says Don Ball, Auburn University extension forage
specialist. “Overall, we had reasonably good hay production, and some
people were able to produce more hay than they needed. But it does vary
because the rains we had were not equally distributed. Some people will
need hay.”
Hay supplies in western Tennessee are also spotty, says Brian White,
University of Tennessee extension beef and forage specialist. “In
parts of our area, people were able to make a pretty good hay crop,”
he says. “A lot of people were able to replenish their hay stocks. But
you go 50 miles away and it changes dramatically. Some people have had a
tough, dry year. It really depends on whether or not you caught the
summer rains.”
Georgia’s Hancock urges livestock producers to buy only tested hay, if
possible. “Last year, a lot of the hay that was sold was of very, very
low quality,” he notes. “So it required a lot of supplementation
when it was fed to cows. If you have to pay $5 or $10 more for
better-quality tested hay, you’ll come out ahead.”
“Hay is more expensive and valuable than it used to be,” adds Ball.
“With inputs like fertilizer and fuel going up so much, having hay
tested will pay even more than it used to.”
White also encourages livestock producers to weigh hay before buying.
“For whatever reason, a lot of hay in the Southeast is bought and sold
by the bale,” he says. “The problem is that one bale will weigh 600
lbs, while another might be 1,400 lbs. Buying and selling by the ton is
definitely the way to go.”
To contact Hancock, phone 706-542-1529 or email dhancock@uga.edu. Reach White at
731-968-5266 or dwhite3@utk.edu,
and Ball at 334-844-5491 or balldon@auburn.edu.
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A fact sheet summarizing recent research on how heat damage affects
forage quality is available from University of Wisconsin Extension. The
publication, titled Heat Damaged Forages: Effects on Forage
Quality, was authored by Wayne Coblentz of the U.S. Dairy Forage
Research Center and Pat Hoffman, University of Wisconsin extension dairy
specialist. To download the fact sheet, go to www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/HeatDamage-FOF.pdf
on the UW’s Team Forage Web site.
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Whether you’re looking for proven
performance in a package that offers exceptional value or a tractor that
gives you the latest electronic conveniences and push button simplicity,
the new T6000 Series tractors from New Holland are built for you. T6000
tractors are a natural choice for haying operations and heavy loader
work. To learn more, see your local New Holland dealer or call
1-888-290-7377. www.newholland.com/na
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With credit markets tightening everywhere, it’s more important
than ever for farmers and ranchers to polish their management skills,
says Texas A&M extension ag economist Danny Klinefelter. Among his
suggestions for operating in tough financial times:- Emphasize
liquidity. “Make sure inputs generate sufficient income to justify the
expense,” says Klinefelter. “Remember, maximum profit and maximum
yield are not the same thing.”
- Shore up loans. This encompasses long-term loans (land and other
real estate), intermediate loans (equipment) and short-term loans
(operating expenses). “Make sure you’ve got your debt structured
correctly,” he says. “It may be good insurance to convert some
short-term debt to a fixed-rate loan amortized over five years, even if
it’s at a higher rate. The objective is to improve your working
capital position and to become more flexible. You don’t want to get
caught with a lot of carryover operating debt for the next year.”
- Evaluate alternative business models. Consider joining forces with
other producers to gain access to expertise and economies of scale,
advises Klinefelter. “Producers could form an LLC (limited liability
company) or a closed cooperative to combine their buying power or to
spread the cost of acquiring greater technical expertise or risk
management,” he says.
- Delay significant capital purchases. “Deleveraging is another
option to keep in mind,” Klinefelter says. “Right now, unless
farmers really get a good deal, they don’t want to be going out and
overcommitting themselves.”
What are you doing to tighten up your management practices? Let us know
or comment on the article by clicking on the icon, then scroll to the
end of the story.
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Clemson University is launching a $1.2 million bioethanol research
project to find the best way to produce plant-based fuels in the
southeastern U.S. It’s funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE). The purpose of the project, which will also involve
DOE’s Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, SC, is to assess
the potential of switchgrass and sweet sorghum as feedstocks that can be
processed into ethanol. The grant will also fund development of a
small-scale biofuel processing plant at Clemson’s Restoration
Institute in North Charleston, SC. For more on switchgrass research at
Clemson, go to agroecology.clemson.edu/switchgrass/sg.htm.
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The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has given thumbs up to proposed
USDA rules aimed at clarifying issues related to organic pasture
requirements. USDA released the suggested regulations last week. OTA
says the proposal is in the spirit of practices that most organic
farmers have been using on their lands for years. OTA also notes that,
under the proposal, “current regulations that prohibit organic farmers
from using genetically engineered growth hormones, antibiotics,
irradiation, sewage sludge and cloned animals remain in place, as do
requirements that organic farmers build healthy soil without the use of
toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and certification for
all but the smallest farms.”
USDA is accepting public comments on the proposed regulations until Dec.
23. To read the regulations, go to the National Organic Program Web site
at www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
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Ohio
Even with increased production for both alfalfa and other types of hay
this year, livestock producers in Ohio could find themselves
hard-pressed to find hay this winter, says Mark Sulc, Ohio State
extension forage specialist.
According to a recent report from the state’s ag statistics service,
alfalfa production in Ohio this year was up by 20% over last year’s
figure, while production for other types of hay was up 27%. The problem,
says Sulc, is that hay stocks coming out of the winter were extremely
low. “Last year was just plain rough all the year around,” he says.
“People came into this year with nothing for hay.”
An extreme dry spell, starting in early July and continuing through the
end of the growing season, compounded the problem. “It was one of the
driest Julys on record in many parts of Ohio, and we didn’t get a lot
of rain after that,” Sulc says. “As a result, many producers are
already feeding hay to cows on their pastures and have been for quite
some time.”
Sulc also notes that, while first-crop alfalfa yields were high,
putting up high-quality hay was difficult. “A lot of that first
cutting had to be put up between rain showers and the quality suffered
accordingly,” he says. “Later in the year, because it was so dry, a
lot of people weren’t able to get a fourth cutting like they would in
a more normal season. The demand for top-quality dairy hay will remain
high.”
To reach Sulc, send an email to sulc.2@osu.edu or phone 614-292-9084.
Manitoba
Compared to the last three years, hay yields this year were way up for
Dave Henry and his dad, Harley, Rossendale, MB. One indicator: Toward
the end of their second cutting, the hay-making team ran out of tarps
for covering their product. “At first, we thought maybe someone had
stolen them,” says Dave. “But when we did a count, they were all
there.”
The Henrys put up 600 acres of alfalfa and alfalfa-grass hay in two to
three cuttings annually. The hay is packaged in 3 x 3’ medium square
bales.
While quantity was up this year, quality was off a touch. “Normally,
we look for a relative feed value of 140-150 on our second cutting,”
says Dave. “This year, though, it was more like 120-130 even though it
looked good and had some nice color to it.”
Weather was likely a key factor. “We were late getting started on the
season because of rain,” he says. “Then as the summer went on, we
didn’t have a lot of warm weather, just one or two days where the temp
was above 75 degrees.”
The Henrys use a Winnipeg-based broker to market their hay. “He takes
care of lining up buyers, having the hay tested and arranging for
trucking,” says Dave. “We have plenty of other things to do.”
He figures about 90% of their hay is sold in the U.S. The primary
markets are dairy and beef operations. Last year, they also sold to
horse owners in Tennessee and Virginia. The Henrys can be contacted by
phone at 204-252-2345 or 204-252-2128.
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Land-grant universities in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska are
teaming up to help answer questions on crop and livestock insurance
under the latest farm bill. Their insurance workshop, titled “Meeting
the Risk Management Challenges of a New Farm Bill and New Price
Relationships,” will be presented Nov. 4 in Brush, CO; Nov. 5 in Grand
Island, NE; and Nov. 6 in Salina, KS. According to organizers, the
workshop is designed for growers, ranchers, crop insurance agents, ag
lenders and others who want to enhance their knowledge of risk
management and their ability to design appropriate risk management plans
for their farms/ranches or provide risk management advice to clients.
Presentation topics will include the new farm bill; using ACRE in a risk
management plan; and pasture, range and forage policy updates.
More information is available at cropinsure.unl.edu (click on
Workshop Registration) or by phone at 800-535-3456.
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Oct. 31-Nov. 2 -- Virginia Equine Extravaganza, Richmond
Raceway, Richmond. Learn more at www.equineextravaganza.com.
Nov. 6-7 -- 2008 BEEF Quality Summit, sponsored by
BEEF magazine, Antlers Hilton Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO. Visit
beefconference.com/.
Nov. 12-13 -- Oklahoma Biofuels Conference, Skirvin Hotel,
Oklahoma City. For more details, visit www.GrowOK.com or phone 800-203-5494.
Nov. 13-16 -- Massachusetts Equine Affaire, Eastern States
Exposition Center, West Springfield. Visit www.equineaffaire.com.
Dec. 2-4 -- California Alfalfa & Forage Symposium And Western Alfalfa
Seed Conference, Town & Country Resort and Hotel, San Diego. Learn
more at alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/+symposium/2008/.
Dec. 5-6 -- 2008 Missouri Livestock Symposium, Kirksville.
Programs for horse, beef cattle, sheep, meat goat and forage producers,
and trade show. Details at missourilivestock.com or call
Bruce Lane at 660-665-9866 or Garry Mathes at 660-341-6625.
Jan. 6 -- Delmarva Hay & Pasture Conference, Delaware State
Fairgrounds, Harrington. Contact Les Vough, 301-405-1322 or vough@umd.edu.
Jan. 7 -- Southern Maryland Hay & Pasture Conference, Izaak
Walton League Outdoor Education Center, Waldorf. Contact Les Vough,
301-405-1322 or vough@umd.edu.
Jan. 8 -- Tri-State Hay & Pasture Conference, Location TBA.
Contact Les Vough, 301-405-1322 or vough@umd.edu.
Jan. 15-16 -- Southwest Hay And Forage Conference, Ruidoso, NM.
Contact Gina Sterrett at 575-626-5677 or Justin Boswell at 575-840-9908.
Jan. 21-22 -- Heart Of America Grazing Conference, Columbus, IN.
Contact Jason Tower at 812-678-4427 or towerj@purdue.edu.
Jan. 27-28 -- Joint Annual Meeting/Symposium Of Midwest Forage
Association, Wisconsin Custom Operators And Professional Nutrient
Applicators, Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI. Go to www.midwestforage.org.
Feb. 3-4 -- Idaho Hay And Forage Conference, Burley. Call Glenn
Shewmaker at 208-736-3608.
Feb. 3-4 -- Mid-America Alfalfa Expo, hosted by the Nebraska
Alfalfa Marketing Assn., Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney, NE.
Contact Barb Kinnan at 800-743-1649 or nebalf@cozadtel.net.
Feb. 19 -- Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Cave City Convention
Center. E-mail glacefie@kyu.edu or
raysmith1@uky.edu.
March 6-7 -- Joint Maryland Cattlemen's Convention/Central Maryland
Hay & Pasture Conference, Four Points Sheraton, Hagerstown. Contact
Scott Barao at 410-795-5309 or sbarao@marylandcattle.org or
Les Vough, 301-405-1322 or vough@umd.edu.
June 21-23 -- American Forage & Grassland Council Annual
Conference, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI. Call
800-944-2342 or email info@afgc.org.
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